Unit 3 Vocab

Question 1

When parties redraw district lines to gain an advantage over other parties.

Answer 1

Gerrymandering

Question 2

The process of drawing district lines to pack in opponents like cattle into as few districts as possible; decreases opponent’s voter strength & influence

Answer 2

Packing

Question 3

Taking one district & cracking it into several pieces; spreads voters out among many districts. denying opponent a lot of votes

Answer 3

Cracking

Question 4

When two reps from one party are made to compete against each other for the leadership in one district

Answer 4

Kidnapping

Question 5

Determine the population in the U.S.

Answer 5

Census

Question 6

Divide or organize (an area) into new political districts.

Answer 6

Redistricting

Question 7

Redistribution of representation in a legislative body, especially the periodic reallotment of U.S. Congressional seats according to the changes in the census figures as required by the Constitution.

Answer 7

Reapportionment

Question 8

Grants congress the power to pass all laws necessary & proper for carrying out the enumerated list of powers

Answer 8

Elastic Clause

Question 9

Congress controls the purse strings; they dole out the money

Answer 9

Power of the Purse

Question 10

Power to investigate/review bureaucratic agencies and bureaus to ensure they are implementing the laws as intended.

Answer 10

Oversight

Question 11

Total amount of money that U.S. owes

Answer 11

Debt

Question 12

Spend less than you earn; extra funds

Answer 12

Surplus

Question 13

Spend more than you earn; excess spending

Answer 13

Deficit

Question 14

When all senators agree

Answer 14

Unanimous Consent

Question 15

When senators talk non-stop to stall the debate

Answer 15

Filibuster

Question 16

When Senate votes to end debate over bill with a 2/3 vote

Answer 16

Cloture vote

Question 17

Mandatory spending; spending that doesn’t have to be approved by congress every year-(social security, medicare/medicaid, unemployment, disability)

Answer 17

Entitlements

Question 18

• Most powerful person in the House
• Leader of the majority party
• Allows people to speak on the floor
• Assigns bills to committees
• Influences which bills are brought to a vote
• Appoints members of special and select
  committees

Answer 18

Speaker of the House

Question 19

Q: Do states have to redraw their boundaries after each census?
Yes, states must, as accurately as possible, demonstrate shifts in population and fairly develop redistricting schemes. Districts must be equal in size/population - “one man, one vote”

Answer 19

Baker v Carr

Question 20

Q: Is racial gerrymandering constitutional?
Racial gerrymandering was unconstitutional as the only factor; must use race + other factors to gerrymander

Answer 20

Shaw v Reno

Question 21

Spending that automatically carries over from year to year, congress does not need to approve; includes entitlements (social security, medicare/Medicaid, unemployment, disability)

Answer 21

Mandatory Spending

Question 22

Spending congress must approve every year; includes military and non-military spending

Answer 22

Discretionary Spending

Question 23

Allowed voters to directly elect senators

Answer 23

17th amendment

Question 24

Allows members of Congress to exchange votes, bills might pass for frivolous reasons.

Answer 24

logrolling

Question 25

This reserves a portion of spending for a pet project like a bridge to nowhere. Congress-persons often anonymously add these & add them in conference (skipping most of the legislative process).

Answer 25

earmark

Question 26

Does not permit amendments from the floor

Answer 26

Closed Rule

Question 27

Permits amendments from the floor

Answer 27

Open Rule

Question 28

- Initiate revenue bills - Impeach federal officials - Elect the president in case of an electoral college tie

Answer 28

House Sole Powers

Question 29

- Conduct impeachment trials - Consents to ratification of treaties by 2/3 supermajority vote - Vote & confirm appointments of President

Answer 29

Senate Sole Powers

Question 30

Schedules the House floor legislative calendar and directs management for all House committees

Answer 30

House Majority leader

Question 31

Works to promote the party and works against the majority party’s agenda; loyal opposition

Answer 31

H/S Minority leader

Question 32

Schedules the Senator floor legislative calendar and direct management for all House committees

Answer 32

Senate Majority leader

Question 33

Committees in charge of entitlements and taxes

Answer 33

H Ways & Means Comm./S Finance Comm.

Question 34

Committees in charge of discretionary spending

Answer 34

H/S Appropriations Committees

Question 35

Takes work from H/S appropriations committees & H ways/means committee + S finance committee and creates budget

Answer 35

H/S Budget Committee

Question 36

Helps President make budget

Answer 36

OMB

Question 37

Withdrawing unanimous consent/temporary stops

Answer 37

Holds

Question 38

Idea that the budget will increase by a certain amount each year

Answer 38

Incrementalism

Question 39

Coordinate ideas on, and garner support for proposed legislation.

Answer 39

Majority Whip

Question 40

Coordinates the party in response to legislative matters

Answer 40

Minority Whip

Question 41

- Name recognition - Media Coverage: Greater for incumbents - Fund raising advantage_Winner=$ most spent - Proven track record- CASEWORK / PORK - FRANKING privileges – free mailing - GERRYMANDERING (390/435)

Answer 41

Incumbent advantages

Question 42

2-year terms

Answer 42

House of Representatives

Question 43

6-year terms

Answer 43

Senate

Question 44

Number of members in House of Representatives

Answer 44

435

Question 45

Number of members in Senate

Answer 45

100

Question 46

They feel duty-bound to vote in line with the party platform and the wishes of their party’s leaders

Answer 46

Partisans Theory

Question 47

Agents of those who elected them. Believe that they should vote the way they think “the folks back home” would want.

Answer 47

Delegate Theory

Question 48

Believe that each question they face must be decided on its merits. Conscience and independent judgement are their guide.

Answer 48

Trustee Theory

Question 49

Combine the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles. They balance both their constituents and party lines.

Answer 49

Politico Theory

Question 50

subject matter committees that handle bills in different policy areas (OVERSIGHT)

Answer 50

Standing Committees

Question 51

resolve differences in House and Senate bills

Answer 51

Conference Committees

Question 52

- Minimum of 25 years of age - U.S. citizen for 7 years - Resident of the state they represent

Answer 52

House Requirements

Question 53

Minimum of 30 years of age U.S. citizen for 9 years Resident of the state they represent

Answer 53

Senate Requirements

Question 54

a few subject-matter areas—membership drawn from House and Senate

Answer 54

Joint Committees

Question 55

Allows bills to skip the committee process; simple majority; rarely used

Answer 55

Discharge Petition

Question 56

About the legislative branch and its powers

Answer 56

Article I

Question 57

Having two branches or houses (like the legislative branch/congress)

Answer 57

Bicameral

Question 58

States that congress has the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce

Answer 58

Commerce Clause

Question 59

-Declare War -To raise and support armies -To provide and maintain a navy -To provide for organizing the militia

Answer 59

War Powers

Question 60

-To lay and collect taxes, duties to pay debt -To borrow $ -To regulate interstate and foreign commerce (AKA- Commerce Clause) -To coin $ -Punish counterfeiting

Answer 60

Financial Powers

Question 61

-To establish rules of naturalization -To establish post offices -To establish and enforce patents -To define and punish piracy and other crimes against the nation- TREASON -Establish courts

Answer 61

Governmental Powers

Question 62

- This is where most work is done SMALLER/SPECIALIZED; Here, all bills are researched, revised, and voted on -This is where most bills die (90% of bills never get out of committee) - Have GATEKEEPING AUTHORITY; PROPOSAL POWER

Answer 62

Committee Importance (Bill-law)

Question 62

Once bill is approved by both House & Senate, it is then sent to President where he/she can sign it into law, veto it (congess can override veto with 2/3 vote), or sit on it.

Answer 62

President Importance (Bill-law)

Question 63

In the House, the top committee slots are effectively decided by the Republican and Democratic party leadership along with seniority and preference; majority party controls the most significant leadership positions.

Answer 63

Political Party Importance (Bill-law)

Question 64

- Function as a traffic cop for bills coming out of committee - Provide rules for the debate - Schedule bill on calendar, allot time for debate, and specify what kind of amendments may be offered

Answer 64

Rules Committee (House)

Question 65

1. Bill is introduced to either House or Senate (unless $ bill-start in House) 2. Bill is sent to committee where most of the work is done-bills are researched, revised, and voted on 3. After committees approve of it, it is sent to full H/S floor where it is debated & voted on 4. If bill is passed, it is sent to other house where it undergoes the same process 5. Once bill passes both houses, if each house has a different form of bill, then it sent to conference committee to be compromised 6. Once same bill passes both houses, then it is sent to President to be signed into law, vetoed, or sat on

Answer 65

Rules of Law-making (Bill-law)

Question 66

Districts

Answer 66

House constituencies

Question 67

States

Answer 67

Senate constituencies